Mental health promotion and the management of mental illness and its consequences, form a major part of the day-to-day work of all general practitioners, with every third or fourth patient seen suffering from some form of mental health problem. So it is clear that mental health promotion, social inclusion and the management of mental disorders are of huge importance to all in primary care.

 

There is always scope for improvement in the quality of patient care in this aspect of every day clinical practice and many individuals, practices and organisations are working at innovative ways of providing better care for users and carers in the primary care setting. Unfortunately many of these good ideas are not passed on to others and the enthusiasts’ drive and initiative fails to reach further than their own team or locality. Welsh Council of the Royal College of General Practitioners set up a primary care mental health network for Wales    (WaMH in PC) in 2003 to enable those with an interest in primary care mental health to share ideas and for there to be a conduit  “To encourage, foster and maintain the highest possible standards in general medical practice” in the field of mental health.

With the support and facilitation provided by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals WaMH in PC was launched in February 2003 at a conference attended by the Welsh Assembly Minister for Health and Social Care. It is an inclusive organisation open to all those involved in mental health services in primary care across Wales: general practitioners, psychiatrists, psychological therapists, mental health practitioners, counsellors, all primary care staff, all mental health managers, service users, carers,social workers and many others.

The Welsh Assembly Government currently sees mental health as one of its priority areas and has produced a Mental Health National Service Framework for Wales, which is seen as the crucial driver for the effective modernization of Welsh Mental Health services. The work of WaMH in PC is linked to the agenda in the NSF and the network works closely with the Welsh Assembly Government, and has received funding for some of its activities. It provides a forum for sharing models of good practice, for removing stigma from mental illness, for exchange of information between isolated practices, for training, research and consultation, and, most importantly, for support and encouragement of the whole primary care mental health community across Wales.

RCGP Wales in Cardiff is providing administrative and funding support for the network. The network holds two conferences a year, with the focus being on the patients journey. The network also presents annual Bursary awards of up to £5,000 which are funded by an educational grant donated by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. These are for innovative work in primary care mental health in Wales based on the standards set out in the NSF. Previous winners of bursaries have included the Cardiff Book Prescription Scheme, developing a web based CBT training package, volunteering on prescription and a primary care mental health awareness training day.However the network is not just about meetings.

Further initiatives include:

• developing strong links with all 22 LHBs across Wales and providing a useful contribution to the Local Mental Health Strategic Planning Groups outlined in the NSF.

•a website to inform and to act as a link.

• educational packages

• seeking funding for a full time administrative officer for the network RCGP

developing a gold standard for primary care mental health in Wales Chris Manning, Chief Exec of Primhe, the Primary Care and Mental Health Education Charity, has been a strong supporter of the initiative and talked at the first meeting about the power of networks and said, “We need to see people fired up, not burnt out.” Let us hope this network fires people with enthusiasm.

For more information and to register your interest in the network please email Lesley Hills lhills@rcgp.org.uk